Compare towns
Prospect vs Monroe vs Waterbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Prospect has the oldest population (median age 46.8).
Monroe has the most people working from home (15.4%).
Waterbury has the most renters (52.8% rent).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Prospect | Monroe | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,458Lowest |
18,949 |
114,869Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +3.7% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 46.8±3.9Highest 14% above CT |
43.5±2.2 6% above CT |
37.8±1.3Lowest 8% below CT |
| Prospect and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±4.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
25.2%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
23.2%±1.2 CT: 20.2% |
| Monroe and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
15.6%±2 CT: 18.5% |
15.3%±0.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3% CT: 42.5% |
57.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
17.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±0.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Waterbury and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $126,394±$18k 32% above CT |
$157,250±$12kHighest 64% above CT |
$51,886±$2kLowest 46% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $355,400±$21k 3% below CT |
$503,200±$31kHighest 37% above CT |
$208,500±$6kLowest 43% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$433Highest 21% above CT |
$994±$860Lowest 33% below CT |
$1,225±$38 18% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,504 about the CT average |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$5,449Lowest 18% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.3%±31.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
48.8%±46.4 CT: 52.6% |
58.6%±4.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Waterbury and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2% CT: 10% |
2.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
24.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% CT: 66.5% |
95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
47.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
28 min 6% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.1%±3.2 CT: 16% |
15.4%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
8.3%±1.3Lowest CT: 16% |
| Monroe and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #50 of 149 in CT | #48 of 149 in CT | #144 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 16 | Monroe School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services |
| High school in town | None in town | Masuk High School | Crosby High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Lowest |
17.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.